In the last few weeks, I have been trying to get back to my reading habit and spend time browsing through my insanely large RSS subscriptions. Listed here are some stories that caught my attention this morning. I intend to make these listings a frequent feature here. The only reason why I may end up not making these posts regularly is that I may not be reading regularly!

• People living close to rainforests know how it is to deal with leeches. There is simply no escaping them no matter what you do. Clair Heever of ‘Old World Wandering’ discover’s them during a trek in Cambodia’s forests. And the way she tells her story keeps you hooked. This first paragraph below may make you want to read further.

Hirudo orientalis has two heads, two sets of reproductive organs and nine pairs of testes. Hiding deep in Cambodia’s jungles, it waits for unsuspecting animals to sink its teeth into, using sensors to detect heat and movement and anaesthetic to mask the bite. Jaws in place, hirudo orientalis sends an anticoagulant into its host’s bloodstream and begins feeding, consuming up to five times its body mass in blood. Today, it’s mine it is sucking.

• In almost all my photography workshops and tours, I notice that the participants interested in people photography have a dilemma that faces them. Is it ok to shoot people? Should we be discreet and is it fair to be so? Should we ask permission? What if we loose the moment when asking for permission? Accomplished photographer Oded Wagenstein has the answers to those questions, and he proves his point with some excellent portraits.

Should I take the photo from a distance, with a Tele photo lens? Or should I get closer to the person being photographed, but risk losing the authenticity and spontaneity of the moment? Should I give him something for that? Or he might get offended.

Questions similar to those above are often asked by my photography students. Who usually own very good photography equipment and have good technical skills. Yet still, somehow, they are not pleased with their photographs, especially when the subject is people. If you feel the same, this article is for you.

• I always keep a watch on Steve McCurry’s blog, hoping that he will come up with a new post soon. His images never disappoint, like his recent compilation of photographs of staircases.

• As I browsed through my RSS feeds, I noticed a sudden flurry of activity on the feeds of National Geographic website. There were links to the website that contained full length stories. I am not sure if NG is posting stories from the magazine. I marked them for further reading, and even before I go through them, I am taking the liberty to assume that they would be good to share.

• And finally, here is a video on amazing Bhutan.

When you visit any monastery, dzong or temple in Bhutan, you are sure to stumble upon young monks full of energy. You find them studiously performing chores of the monastery, chanting in the prayer hall under the watchful eyes of a monk, sitting in the courtyard and reciting from the books, some times playing football, some times chasing each other or making bubbles with a chewing gum. It is a delight to watch these maroon robed kids immersed in their own world, unusually active compared to other children. I encountered these young monks almost every day during our photography tour to Bhutan last month.

Here are some photographs of these young monks captured in various moods. Click on the images to see larger size.

Play time..

In Conversation

Curious..

Mischievous..

Hardworking..

Anxious..?

Studious..

Reflecting..

Blissful..

Playful..

This September, I will be leading a photography tour for Darter Photography, to the extraordinary land of the Thunder Dragon. We join hands with Gypsy Feet Travels, experts on Bhutan, to take you to the mystic land of beautiful mountains, gurgling rivers, rice fields, happy people and Buddhist monastic traditions. See and photograph the captivating landscapes and culture of Bhutan with Darter Photography and Gypsy Feet. As you travel, learn to make mesmeric images of the country’s rolling mountains, ancient structures, people and the culture in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

See full details of  Travel Photography Tour to Bhutan